Government to relax approval system for food products: Union Minister Badal

New Delhi: The government is taking steps to ease product approval system of food regulator FSSAI and working on a new mechanism where manufacturers may not need approval for their products if ingredients are cleared.

"The FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) comes under the Health Ministry. They are taking necessary steps to ensure this regulatory body eases the way the product approval is done," Badal told reporters on the sidelines.

Some 11,500 ingredients have been put on the website for the public opinion, she said, adding that the deadline for public comments is December 13.

"So, instead of product approval now, there will be ingredients which are approved and you can go ahead with your innovation and production of the products. This is to harmonise with international standards," she stressed.

FSSAI has been in the spotlight after it imposed ban on Maggi in June this year, which was later lifted by the Bombay High Court.